Dahua Intercom Tested

By Brian Rhodes, Published Feb 07, 2019, 10:51am EST

Video intercoms are a growing market with video surveillance manufacturers expanding into this niche. IPVM is continuing its series of video intercoms tests, adding to our test of Zenitel/ Stentofon Turbine and Axis 2N.

Can Dahua become a viable low-cost alternative in video intercoms as they have done in IP cameras?

** ****** *** ****** a ***** ******** ****** (*********,*********, *** *********)** *** *** ** compares:

** **** ****, ** examined *** *********:

  • ******** ********* *** **********
  • ****** *******
  • *** ** ***** ********* is ***********
  • ********* ********
  • ***** ****** ***** ****** than ********

Key ********

****** *** *******, *** test ********* *** ******** system *** ***** *** following **********:

  • *** '*** ** ***' Ready: ******* ** ***** ready ** ******* *** of *** ***, ********* ********* *** **** ************* ********** ****** ****** ***** configured ********* *** ********.
  • ***** ***** ****: *** ******* ******* does *** **** ***** cancelling ** *** *** audio ******, *** ********** noise **** **** ****** conversation ******* ***** *********.
  • ** ****** ***: *** ******** ****** is ***** ****, *** no ****** *** ****** calling ** *** ********* is *********.
  • ***** ******** *** ********: **** ** *** devices *** ********* **** 12V ** *** ***** supplies, *** ***** * solder-able ****** ********* ** packaged **** *****, ********** will **** ** ******* their *** ***** ********.

******* *** *********, *****'* system *** **** **** advantages:

  • ********** **.** *** ******: *** ******* ******* comes **** * ******* integrated ****** ******* ****** that **** **** ******** fobs *** ***** **********.
  • ***** **** *********: ****** **** ******** platforms (*.*., *******/ ********* *******), ********* ***** ******* via ** **** ***** well *** **** *** made *** *** *****.
  • ** ********* ********: *** *****, **** a ******** ******** ** required ** *** **** functionality ** *** ******, and ******** *** ** added ** * ****** without ******* ********.

Notice: **** **** *******

**** *********** ****** **** test **** *********** ** the *********** ******* ** the *** ******* *******. Our **** ********* *** live *** **** ** consecutive **** ******* *****, but ** ~*** ***** the ******* **** ******* froze (******* *** ******* from **) *** *** not ***** ***** * power *****.

***** **** ******* ********** an *** *** *********:

Additional ***** ********, ******* ***** ********

** ******** ** *** eventual **** ******* *******, configuring *** ****** ******* to **** **** *** outdoor ******* ** **** than * '**** *** play' ********* **** ********* ***** ** ************** *******.

***** ********** ***** *** atypical ** **** ***** network ******** ******** *******, as *********** **** ******* *******/ ********* *******, ** ********, ******* **** ***************.

*** ***** ** ********* from ************ *** **** not ********* **** ***** supplies ****-**-**** ********, *** ********** **** be ******** ** ***** time *** ********** ***** sourcing ***** ********* ***** and ******** ****** ********.  Installation ** *** * simple '****-***' ******* *** requires ********** ************ *****.

******** System ******* ********

****** ***** ** ******** systems, *****'* ******** **** than * **** ******* and ** *** ** workstation ******. ******* ******** must ** **** ** receive ** **** *****.

*****'* ******** ****** **** three ***** **********:

  • ****** **** ******* (***** PN:*********) ~$***, *" *********** viewing ***** *** ********* calls **** *** ******* Station.
  • ******* ******/*** ***** (***** PN:*********) ~$**, * *-**** switch **** **** *** furnish ***** ** *** Indoor *******.
  • ******* **** ******* (***** PN:********* ~$*** ***** **** ******* with ****** *** ********** card ******.

************ ** ***** ******* can ** ******** ** create ***** *******. * call ****** **** ** outdoor ******* *** ** routed ** ******** ****** call ******** ****** ** user-defined **** *******.

Dahua ******** ****

*** ***** **** ** a ****** *****-**-***** ******* system *** ~$***. **** a ******** **** **********, the **** ** **** compared *********/********* *********** ***********.

*******, **** **** ***** to ******* *** *********, the ***** **** *** subsequent ***** **** ** install ***** ********* *** higher.

Outdoor "*********" **** *******

*** **** ****** **** station ** * *****, glass ***** ******, **** reader, *** ***** ********:

*** **** ******** ** integrated ****** (**.*****) **** reader. ** ****** ******* MiFARE ******* ** *****, and *** **** ****** number ** **** ** the ******.

*** **** **** *** VTO1220BW, *** *** ***** similar ***** *** ******** variants *** *******:

** ****, *** ********* model, ***** ******** ** 'vandal *********' ** ***** IK07. *** ****'* ******* protect ** ***** ****, less **** *** **** stringent **** ***** ***** non ****** ***** ******.

*** ***** ***** ******* the ****'* ******** *****, including *** ******** *** locks *** ** **** jack *** ********:

** ****, ***** *** (Non-US) '******' ******* ******** expansion *******, *** ******* sold ** *** ** does *** ******* *******.

Indoor **** ******* & ******* ******

***** ****** ******** ******* a ****-******* ****** *** answering/making ***** *** ******* video **** *** **** station:

*** ********** *** ***** together **** **********, ***** **** ******** ***** to *** ****** **** station (** *** **** supplies * ***** ****** power ******).

Viewing ********** *******

*** ****** ********** ** rated ** *** * 400 **********, **** **** the *.*** ****** ***** into *** **** *******.

** **** ****** ********* users ******* * **** in **** *****, *** loss ** ********* ********** will *** ** * problem. *******, ***** ****** expect *** *****, ***** tablet ****** **** *** display *** **** ********** of *** ******* ***********'* camera.

*** ****** *** ** used ** **** ***** cameras ** ****, *** the *********** *** ******* to **** ******, * limitation ******* ** ***** but *** ***** ******* made ***** *** ********* to ******* ***** ******* to *** *****.

***** ********* *** ********** limitations ** *** ****** tablet:

** *** ********* ********** with *.*** ***** ******* with * ******* ********** of ****, ** *** of *** *** ****** is ******** *** ******* that ******* *** *** above. ************, *** ****** monitors ** *** ********* support ******* *******.

No ***** **********

** *** *******, **** background *** **** ***** made ***** ******* **** to ****, *** ***** output ****** *** ********** the ********** *** *** have *** ***** ********** capabilities.

*****'* ******* ********* *** feature ** *** ******** based ** *** ******** market *********:

********* ** ** *** design *** ***** ******** products **** ***** ********** technology. *** ******** ******* we ***** *** *****-****** low-rise, ***-**** *** ****-**** apartments, ******-****** ********** **********, single *** *****-****** *********** homes, ********* *** ******* entry/exit *******.

*******, ***** ** *** test **** ******** **** can ** ********** ** system *****.

Big ********

*****'* ******* ******* ** quite ***** ******** ** video **** ******** **** 2N, *******/*********, *** *******. The ***** ***** ***** the ******** ** ***** between ***** *****:

***********, *** ***** **** can ***** **** ********* or ****** ***** **** is *********. *** *******, the ******* ** *** test *** ** ******* mount *******, ***** ***** version **.

***** ********* ****:

*** ********* (***** ****** version) ******** ***** ***** applications **** ***** *** VTO1210C-X (********* ***** ****** version) ******** **** ***** mount *** ******* ***** applications.

*******, ** *****, *** ingress ********** ****** ** the ********* ******* ** less **** *** *****/***** versions, *** ***** *** have ********** ******* *********** semi-protected ******** *********.

'Bring **** *** *****'

****** **** ***-******* *********, Dahua ******** ********** ***** supplies **********. ***** *** a *********** *******, ***** costing **** **** ~$** each, *** ****** ***** supplies ******** **** ******* can ****** ***** *** add ************ **** ** install:

No ****** *** *******

******* *** ******** *** the ***** ****** ** no ****** **** ** remote **** ********* ** available, *** *** **** traffic **** **** ***** at *** *** ****** monitor.

**** ****** ********* ******** to ******* ********* **** often ******* **** **** and ***-**** ******* ****** subscriptions **** ****** ****** answering *** ******* ** openings **** *** ******.

Firmware ******** ******

  • *** *** *** ******* station, *** ******** ******: **.***.****.*.*.********
  • *** *** *** ****** monitor, *** ******** ******:  **.***.****.*.*.********

Comments (12)

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | 02/07/19 11:27pm

A distributor member gave this feedback to us:

One thought on the following point:
“No Mobile App: The intercom system is local only, and no method for remote calling or app operation is available.”

An integrator found a way to make this intercom work on mobile apps. That requires running SmartPSS <https://dahuawiki.com/Template:SmartPSS> platform. 

...Another thing is that the requirement of having SmartPSS-run server dramatically changes pricing of this solution. And finally, it’s cumbersome.

This is good feedback because it would potentially offer remote access to the intercom system, but as the member notes it would require substantial configuration on an additional local server, which are points/costs that most intercom remote apps do not require.

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Josh Reynolds

02/08/19 02:03am

It may be worth noting that Dahua have two types of door station, Apartment (as tested) and Villa. The comparison products under "Big Stations" are all a similar size to the Dahua Villa options as they only have one call button. 

The larger Apartment stations have either keypads (as per the VTO1220BW) or multiple call buttons (VTO2000A-X) to allow a visitor to call one of many tenants. 

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Josh Reynolds | 02/08/19 02:14am

That's interesting, and a good comment.

For clarity, here is that other smaller station Josh mentions:

VTO2000A  (IP54 rating)  ~$300

 

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Shay Fogel

02/08/19 11:46am

The Dahua villa door station you mention works well with a mobile app. It doesn’t work without a monitor station though. Other models like VTO3211, do.

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Tamas Menyhart

02/09/19 01:43pm

Without indoor station can work: VTO2111, VTO3211, VTO2101E-P
Mobile APP: iDMSS, gDMSS. Support P2P, qrcode connection.
Dispatch sofware: SmartPSS or DSS

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Tamas Menyhart | 02/09/19 03:51pm

Hello Tamas:

I believe the difference in US Firmware versions and global versions limits the 'VTH-less' use of these models in Apple or Android DMSS Apps. Moreover some of those model are not available in North America will not be supported here.

Thanks!

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Tamas Menyhart

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 02/09/19 04:02pm

You're right, I didn't think this. :D

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Harris Bond

02/11/19 10:14am

Why is a power supply needed if everything is PoE and they can supply their own PoE switch?

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Harris Bond | 02/11/19 03:45pm

Hello Harris:

It isn't standard PoE.  The VTH is 24VAC which can be supplied by the 'network power supply' VTHS, but the user must provide their own power supply for that.

Some of the VTOs can be supplied from the VTHS too, but in our case the VTO1228BW is a 12VDC unit, so we used a separate power supply within those specs.

Does that help?

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Seth Stiebinger

02/11/19 05:37pm

Of note, the stainless model, while marketed as 'vandal resistant' is rated IP54, less than the most stringent IP65 rated glass non vandal rated models.

Note that IP is the ingress rating (water/dust) not the vandal (Impact) rating (IK).

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Seth Stiebinger | 02/11/19 05:55pm

Thanks for the comment!  You're correct, and in the case of the door station the vandal resistance claim is not clarified by an IK rating. 

I'll clarify the post to avoid potential confusion.  Thanks!

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Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Seth Stiebinger | 02/11/19 05:59pm

Edit: Dahua claims IK07 Vandal Resistance.  I clarified this!  Thanks again.

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